A 41-year-old man was arrested Monday, July 22 after he led Ceres police officers on a high-speed chase from Ceres into Merced County near Livingston.

Arrested on multiple charges was Billy Joe McCoy, 41, of Modesto.

The pursuit began at 11:29 p.m. when Officer Coey Henson attempted to stop a gold Saturn for traffic violations at Hatch and Mitchell roads. McCoy refused to stop, leading Officer Henson on a pursuit that went from Hatch Road to southbound Santa Fe Avenue through Hughson and Denair and continued into Merced County. McCoy turned onto westbound Cortez Road from Santa Fe Avenue and threw a double-barreled shotgun out of the window as he passed North Avenue.

McCoy continued speeding on Cortez Road before turning onto El Capitan Way. McCoy then immediately steered into an orchard where he bailed from the car as it was moving and ran toward a farm house. The Saturn rolled to a stop against a tree as McCoy ran to an area where farm equipment was being stored. Sgt. Vincent Hooper caught up to McCoy and ordered him to the ground. Sgt. Hooper and Officers Eric Souza and Henson cornered McCoy where he finally dropped to the ground and was taken into custody. 

In his attempt to escape, McCoy had sustained a cut to his head, apparently after hitting bumping into farm equipment or the low hanging metal roof. He was treated for the minor laceration by paramedics before being transported to jail.

McCoy was booked for evading a police officer, driving the wrong way while evading, possession of a firearm by a felon, parole violations, possession of a sawed off shotgun, carrying a switchblade knife and driving on a suspended license.